Vacuum breaker for flush valves



J. J. DELANY Oct. 8, 1940.

VACUUM BREAKER FOR FLUSH VALVES Filed May 5, 1939 ATTORNEY Patented a. 8,1940

PATENT OFFICE r 2,216,808 VACUUM BREAKER FOR FLUSH vALv s John J. Delany, Brookly N- Y1, assignor of onetenth to J. D. Langdon, Los Angeles Calif.

Application May 3, 1939, Serial No. 271,459

3 Claims. (01. 137-}69) f This invention herein disclosed relates to a vacuum breaker adapted to be\used in a flush fixture and more particularly in connection with a flush fixture in which the flushing is controlled by a flush valve.

An object of the invention is to provide a vacuum breaker which offers less resistance to water flow than devices for this purpose now in commercial use.

A further object of the inventionis the provision of a, vacuum breaker in which themeans for closing the vents to theiatmosphere requires but little pressure to operate it, and therefore a portion only of .the flushwater need be utilized '3 for its effective operation. 7

A still further object contemplates rendering the position of the air vent closingmeans visible from outside the casing of the device, enabling any failure of correct operation to open the air vents to be detected andthe difiiculty readily remedied.

Various advantageous features of the invention will be more fully appreciated from the following description and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a part elevational and part sectional view;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; 00 Figure 3 is a section on'the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and i Figure 4 is a section on the lines 4-4 of Figure 2. I

The vacuum breaker includes a body portion 2 and a cover 4. The body portion is cylindrical and is provided with a chamber 5' in the center of which is located a conduit 6, cylindrical in cross-section and connected to the cover 4.

The conduit 6 constitutes the means whereby A water released by the flush valve shown conventionally at 8, is conveyed to the outlet pipe l0 and thence to the fixture to be flushed. The cover 4 is provided with openings H whichconnest with air vents It, the latter opening into the chamber in the body portion 2 thereby permitting air to enter said chamber and into the pipe [0.

The inner contour of the restricted outlet as at it presents a curved surface projecting radially inward of and upward toward. the conduit 6 which serves. two purposes: First, to increase, the bafile effect of deflecting liquid radially outward and upward when liquid is flowing from the conduit.

When the flush valve 8 is operated and a quantity of water is dischargedinto the conduit 6, it is necessary to close the vents l2 during flushing operation, otherwise there would be dan er of water. passing through the vents l2 and out of the openings 1!. In order temporarily to close the vents l2, a Washer I4 is provided. This washer slides on the conduit 5 and is supported in the position shown in Figure l by a ring secured to the outer surface of the conduit 6, this position being normally maintained under the action of gravity. When the washer is moved upwardly, it closes the vents I2 and in order that this opera o m y ta ace automati all as th al e is fl shed. heqw por iqn o the chambe has a constricted opening into the pipe 10, the area of the opening being less than the area of the opening at the lower end of the conduit 6 and spaced from it. The sides of the body portion adjacent the restricted opening are curved as indicated at [6, Figure 1, so that when the valve 8 is flushed, apart of the Water will pass directlyfrom the conduit 6 to the conduit II], a portion of the water, however, will be deflected by the edges of the opening from the lower portion of the chamber into the conduit l0 and this deflected, water will pass upwardly into the chamher and impinge upon the washer I4 moving it upwardly to thereby close the vents [2. The washer I4 is preferably formed of a metal disc 1411. which may be of aluminum or similar light metal and a rubber disc Mb on top of the metal disc I4ct.

In order to guide the washer in its up and down movements, the same is provided with a series of pins [8 and I9, three of which are shown. The two pins l8 pass through openings in the cover 4, but these openings do not extend to the top of the cover. The pin I9, however, is slightly longer than the pins I8 and the opening in the cover is extended through to the top thereof so that this pin I9 may serve as a visible indication of the position of the Washer 14. To prevent tampering with the pin l9, the opening in the cover 4 through which the pin l9 moves, is provided with a small transparent casing 20. Normally when the washer is seated against the ring 15, the top of the pin is in substantial coincidence with the top surface of the cover 4. When the washer, however, is in its position to close the vents l2, the upper portion of the pin l8 projects slightly beyond the cover and its end is provided with some distinctive color, such as red, and thereby serves to indicate the position of the Washer. Should the washer not return to its normal position, after flushing, the pin I9 serves to show this improper operation and the casing 20 may be unscrewed and the washer pushed down.

To prevent any air pocket in the upper portion of the bores through which the pins I 8 move, these pins as well as the pin l9 are provided With longitudinal grooves 22 in their circumference, these grooves being of sufiicient length to communicate with the air space above the pin and with the air space below the bottom edge of the cover 4.

What I claim is:

1. A vacuum breaker for a flush fixture, said breaker having a body portion and a never, said body portion having a chamber, said cover having a central water inlet opening and a centrally located water supply conduit located in said opening, the lower portion of said chamber having an opening of smaller area than the area of said water supply conduit and situated below and spaced from the end of said conduit and through which opening the water passing through said conduit is discharged, air passages in said cover, said passages being connected to said chamber and leading to the atmosphere, a gravity washer supported on and movable relatively to said conduit, a stem carried'by said washer and projecting through an opening in said cover to visibly indicate the position of said washer, and a casing covering the end of said stem, said casing being removable to enable access to be had to the stem of said washer. I

2. A device of the kind described comprising a body having vent means and a liquid inlet conduit for unitary attachment to the outlet of a valve, said body forming an air inlet tube and a circumferential air inlet passage surrounding said liquid inlet conduit, an annular valve member disposed in said tube and surrounding said liquid inlet conduit, said vent means being disposed above said valve member, a restricted outlet passage formed below the end of said liquid inlet conduit, said outlet passage being smaller than the passage through said liquid inlet conduit, the inner end of said outlet forming a curved bafile, the curvature being such that part of any liquid passing from said conduit is diverted and guided radially outward and upward to impinge against and lift said annular member and close the said vent means entering said tube.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a body having vent means and a liquid inlet conduit for unitary attachment to the outlet of a valve, said body forming an air inlet tube and a circumferential air inlet passage surrounding said liquid inlet conduit, an annular valve member disposed in said tube and surrounding said liquid inlet conduit, said vent means being disposed above said valve member, a restricted outlet passage formed below the end of said liquid inlet conduit, said outlet passage being smaller than the passage through said liquid inlet conduit, the inner end of said outlet constituting a bafile so formed that part of any liquid passing from said conduit is diverted and guided radially outward and upward to impinge against and lift said annular member and close the said vent means entering said tube.

JOHN J. DELANY. 

